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Preserving leads to the strong intake of BPA
There has been a debate for some time about how much of the industrial chemical lurks bisphenol A (also known as BPA) in canned foods and whether this poses a health risk. For more than forty years, BPA has been used in consumer products such as cans and cans. This is to prevent corrosion and breakage of the metal. Researchers have now found that eating canned foods can pollute our body with BPA.
In general, nutrition experts advise on fresh foods. An additional argument against canning is the industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA). Numerous studies have proven that the chemical harms our health. Now, scientists from the Stanford University School of Medicine have found in a new study that consuming canned food causes our bodies to be burdened with BPA. The experts published the results of their study in the journal "Environmental Research".
Canned food is usually prepared quickly and easily. The disadvantage of this is that the industrial chemical bisphenol A passes from the packaging into our body. (Image: Jürgen Fälchle / fotolia.com) Soups and canned pasta are particularly stressed
Do you often eat soups or canned ravioli? If so, you may expose your body to a health hazard. The new study found that these foods lead to a higher concentration of BPA than, for example, canned vegetables and fruits, say the experts. Doses of beverages, meat and fish do not cause a higher BPA concentration among consumers.
Canned foods contaminate our bodies
Knowing about the potential BPA intake can help consumers in the future if they need to decide what canned foods or cans they are buying. The consumption of canned foods is one of the highest exposure pathways of BPA, explain the scientists. The study shows that the consumption of preserved foods continues to be a source of BPA contamination. In principle, the materials of the packaging can become a problem with food. For example, it has recently been discovered that mineral oil is contained in food packaging, which can transfer to the food and cause stress to consumers. Even residues of mineral oil can endanger our health.
Study examines nearly 8,000 subjects
The current study included over 7,669 subjects. All subjects were six years or older and were screened between 2003 and 2008 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The scientists were able to determine what all persons had eaten in the last 24 hours and whether there was an increased concentration of BPA. The researchers took a urine sample on the same day. Increased urinary BPA levels are clear evidence of BPA exposure, said lead author Jennifer Hartle of the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Consumption of canned foods leads to a significantly increased concentration of BPA
When subjects had eaten a canned food in recent days, they had a 24 percent increase in the concentration of BPA in the urine compared to people who had not consumed canned foods. The consumption of two or more canned foods even led to an approximately 54 percent increase in the concentration of BPA, warn the medical profession.
Canned soup increases BPA value particularly drastically
Once the researchers evaluated which types of canned food were eaten, they found that canned soup increased BPA by up to 229 percent. Preserved pasta led to an increase of 70 percent, and vegetable and fruit canned products to 41 percent. If you eat a single can of mushroom soup, you'll be taking in more BPA than eating three cans of peaches, says lead author Hartle. In the view of the researchers, this could be related to the fat content or heat needed to process the soup.
BPA can mimic hormones and cause health problems
The scientists further tested whether the observed exposure to BPA poses a health risk. BPA may interfere with the normal functioning of hormones in our body, for example it may mimic the response of hormones. It can then reprogram cells, which can bring a variety of health problems, the researchers say. Increased exposure to BPA is associated with many negative effects, such as rising blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, the authors explain.
How much BPA should we eat at most daily??
Although different thresholds for safe BPA dosing are set worldwide, the researchers believe that exposure to BPA should never exceed 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day.
According to the FDA, our food packaging is safe
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted extensive research and reviewed hundreds of studies on the safety of BPA. The currently approved uses of BPA in food packaging in the United States are safe, FDA spokeswoman Lauren Sucher said in a statement to the CNN news channel. However, it is possible for people to reduce their exposure to BPA by purchasing fresh, unpackaged foods, the spokeswoman adds. (As)